20th Safe & Sober Planner Operation ABC You Drink & Drive. You Lose. Call To Action Activities Guide Table of Contents Introduction How to Plan and Conduct National Events Community and Civic Law Enforcement Medical and Health Care Educators and Schools Employers Prosecutors and Judges Armed Forces A Dozen Great Ideas! Media Outreach Sample Media Materials Sample Proclamation Ideas for Year-Round Driving Efforts 3D Prevention Month Coalition 3D Prevention Month Grants Resources Available Tell Us About It! Fact Sheets Program Brochure Resource Guide

PROVING A POINT AT .04 PERCENT BAC

The Napa Area California Highway Patrol (CHP) put impaired drivers on the road, to keep impaired drivers off the road. At the "Holiday Sobriety Challenge," Napa CHP officers served wine to volunteers from the community, and then asked them to drive around a coned autocross at the Sears Point Raceway.

The volunteers, including community leaders and business people, college students, representatives of the media, and a NASCAR driver, drank until their BAC levels were about .04 percent BAC, half the legal limit. Even with this lower level of impairment, normal driving tasks were more difficult and performance was obviously affected.

Officer Mark Bunger, CHP Public Affairs, says that they call this a challenge because drivers are always challenged when they drink and drive. "We hold this event," Bunger says, "to graphically illustrate how alcohol affects driving performance." All the participants, of course, had to have designated drivers to take them home safely.

NEW ALLY HOLDS NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT

The Alcoholism Center for Women in Los Angeles, California, made a 1998 3D Prevention Month event their first public awareness event in more than 24 years. The Center’s ambitious mission was to increase awareness of residents and businesses alike about impaired driving in the neighborhood, as well as motivate the community to take action.

The December 17th kickoff event offered something for almost everyone. Among the attractions were speakers from MADD, a local youth rap group, a tree of life ceremony, a "Say NO to alcohol and drugs" poster contest, educational groups talking about drug and alcohol issues, and spiritual leaders to help remember those who were lost to impaired driving. Residents of the facility also created a 20-foot banner announcing 3D Prevention Month and "Lights on For Life Day" to passing traffic.

Before the kickoff event, the Center appealed to local organizations and individuals to provide the funding for the campaign. Along the way they offered one-on-one training to local business owners in which they demonstrated techniques for handling intoxicated customers.

TEACHING MORE THAN DRIVING TECHNIQUE

Teachers from Gregory’s Driving School in Laredo, Texas, visited classes in local high schools to spread anti-impaired driving wisdom. They taught the teens the dangers of driving while impaired and riding with impaired drivers, as well as how to spot and avoid impaired drivers on the road. They also helped local schools participate in "Lights On For Life Day" and MADD’s Red Ribbon Campaign, and worked with servers to keep any teens who had been drinking legally in Mexico from driving home.